McCain, Palin shake up Washington County

Saturday

WASHINGTON, PA. — For the second time in less than 24 hours, the road to the White House made its way through western Pennsylvania.

But unlike Friday’s rally in Beaver, where the star was clearly Sen. Barack Obama, in Washington County, the spotlight Saturday belonged to the lady.

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who was revealed Friday as Sen. John McCain’s vice-presidential running mate, wove together personal stories about her family with her vow to fight the status quo in Washington, D.C., before about 8,000 Republican supporters in Consol Energy Park, home of the Washington Wild Things.

Throughout her political career, Palin said, she’s been fighting against lobbyists and “the good old boy network,” and she added that the right reason to run to lead the country is “to challenge the status quo and to serve the common good.”

STYLE AND OPENING ACTS

Unlike the down-home atmosphere of Sen. Obama’s appearance inside a flag-draped gazebo at Irvine Park on Friday, McCain and Palin appeared in the ballfield under circumstances more fitting for a rock star. Their bus, nicknamed “The Straight Talk Express,” glided onto the field while the theme from “The Natural” blared from loudspeakers.

A short time before that, former Pittsburgh Steeler and Pennsylvania gubernatorial candidate Lynn Swann whipped the crowd into a frenzy, with many a Terrible Towel twirled around in the muggy air.

Former Gov. Tom Ridge asked the crowd who was more qualified to be commander-in-chief? Who would have better relations with foreign leaders? To each question, they shouted back, “McCain!”

“It’s not about hope, it’s about results,” Ridge said, in teasing Obama’s central campaign theme. “It’s about someone who has already brought about change.”

But mirroring Obama’s theme of making sure business is not done as usual, McCain embraced the same ideal, saying that Palin was a perfect pick as his running mate, because she’s not a Washington insider.

McCain said he and Palin would “shake up” Washington, make changes that would “make it start working again for the people of America.”

ON PICKING PALIN

Palin, the married mother of five children, said the oldest, Track, 19, belongs to a U.S. Army infantry brigade that will be deployed to Iraq within the next several weeks.

Not only is she proud of her son’s service, she said, but Palin also saluted McCain’s resolve to support the war, during a time when it was politically risky to do so.

“That’s the kind of man I want as commander in chief,” Palin said, to a roar of crowd approval.

It is likely the first of several opportunities spectators will have to see the candidates in the next couple of months. Democrats as well as Republicans have said that, in effect, as Pennsylvania goes, so goes the country.

Though several in the crowd admitted they knew little about Palin, what they did know seemed to cement their support for the McCain ticket.

“He picked way outside the box,” said John Quayle of Washington, who attended the rally with his wife, Denise. “The vice presidential pick made it for me. Otherwise, I would have voted for (Libertarian presidential candidate) Bob Barr.”

Both Quayles said they liked Palin’s positions, including a strong anti-abortion stance, and her belief in smaller government.

Donna Robinson of Jackson Township, Butler County, said she was pleased with the selection of Palin, saying she’s “not a socialist,” and would fight to protect the rights given to us in the U.S. Constitution.

Suzette Collins of South Fayette Township said she was won over by Palin as she watched on television the Alaskan governor speak Friday in Dayton, Ohio. Collins added that what she heard Palin say excited her, and put her in a good mood for the rest of the day Friday.

“I found myself inspired by her,” Collins said.

Her daughter, Caitlin Collins, 24, said, “I could be like her. She’s like every woman.”

Not everyone was won over, however. Teri Hudson, of Washington, said she’s been wavering back and forth between McCain and Obama.

“I still need to learn a little bit more about both candidates,” said Hudson, a registered Independent.

Her husband, Mike, said of Palin, “I don’t know enough about her yet.”

Bill Vidonic can be reached online at bvidonic@timesonline.com.

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